Screened vent cap



Aug. 8, 1933.. w. H. RICE ET AL SCREENED VENT CAP Filed Jan. 6, 1952 Patented Aug. 8, 1933 UNITED STATES SCREENED VENT CAP William H. Rice and Hancel M. Lyon, Atlanta, Ga.

Application J anuary 6,

6 Claims.

This invention relates to storage tanks and containers such, for instance, as are employed at gasoline dispensimg stations and storage plants to hold the supply of liquid, and the object of the invention is to provide ventilation t0 permit the volatile fumes t0 escape and also to provide means whereby insects and foreign matter will be prevented from obtaining access to the stored commodity. Other objects of the invention W111 appear incidentaHy in the course of the following description and the invention resides in certain novel features which will be particulafly defined in the appended claims.

In the accompanyng drawing, Fig. 1 is a vertical section of a vent cap embodying the invention,

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a detail elevation of the screen.

The reference numeral 1 indicates the upper end of a vent pipe which leads from the tank and may be of any desired dimensions. In carrying out the present invention, there is fitted upon the upper end of the vent pipe a coupling sleeve 2 which is preferably provided, at its lower end, With internal threads engaging external threads upon the vent pipe whereby the parts may be easily assembled and just as easily separated When cleaning is considered desirable. The upper extremity of the sleeve 2 is externally tapered, as shown at 3, and immediately below the tapered extremity is provided With external threads 4. A tubular screen 5, which may be of any approved form and is preferably tapered and flattened at one end, as shown clearly in Fig. 3, and consists of fine mesh wire netting, is fitted upon the upper end of the sleeve 2, as shown in Fig. 1. The wire netting body of the screen is fiared preferably in a circular form at its lower wider end corresponding to the tapered extremty of the sleeve so that it will fit snugly thereover, as shown in Fig. 1. A retaining collar or cap, shown at '7 and consisting of an annular body having screw threads on its inner circumferen t0 engage the screw threads 4 on the sleeve whereby it 1932. Serial No. 585,134

its upper end, as shown at 10. The lower end of this cap is open so that it may be easily placed in position over the screen and the vent and in its lower margin is provided With openings through which screws 11 may be inserted t0 engage, at their inner ends, with intemally threaded openings provided therefor in the sleeve 2. The screws 11 serve to mount the cap cOncentric with the sleeve and in spaced relation thereto and support it from the cap, and look nuts 12 are. preferabIy provided upon these supporting and securng screws to be turned home against the outer surface of the coupling sleeve and the inner surface of the cap so that the parts will be looked in place. It will be noted that inasmuch as the screen 5 is tapered upwardly and extends over and above the upper end of the coupling sleeve, said screen not only prevents insects from entering the vent pipe but also serves as a barrier or deflector for directing insects striking thereagainst downwardly between the screen and cap and out through the open end of said cap. It W111 further be noted that by adjusting the screws 11 the cap may be centered in spaced relation to the coupling sleeve so that said screws not only serve to connect the cap and coupling but also permit adjustment of one relative to the other.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanyng drawing, it will be readily seen that we have provided a very simpie structure whereby the entrance of insects into a vent pipe and through the pipe into a storage tank will be positively prevented while ample ventilation for the escape of fumes will be afforded. The cap is of such form that it prevents the entrance of rain or other foreign matter to the vent pipe and provides an extensive open area between the cap and the vent so that insects cannot lodge therein and obstruct the circulation of air so as to interfere wth the proper and desired ventilation. When cleaning or replacement of the screen is desired, the separation of the parts can be very easily and quickly eiected and the assembling of the parts, after cleaning or repairing, may be just as easily accomplished.

Having thus descrbed the invention, We claim:

1. A device .for the purposes set forth comprising a coupling sleeve to be secured on the end of a vent pipe, a screen fitted about the free end of the sleeve, means for securing the screen upon the sleeve, a cap having a closed upper end and an open lower end disposed about the sleeve and the screen in spaced relation thereto, supporting screws inserted through the lower margin of the cap and engaged in the sleeve to support the 0 cap in spaced relation to the sleeve, and look nuts mounted on said screws and turned home against the sleeve and the cap respectively.

2. A ventilating devce comprising a couphng adapted to be connected with the end of a vent pipe, an upwardly tapered perforated screen fitting entirely around and extendng above and over the upper end of the coupfing and forming a deflector, and a retainer mounted on the coupling and engaging the screen whereby to hold it firm]y on the coupIng.

3. A ventflatng device comprising a coupling adapted to be connected with the end of a vent pipe, an upwardly tapered screen fitting over and extending above the upper end of the coupling and forming a defiector, a retainer mounted on the coupling and engaging the base of the screen, and a cap fitted over the screen and having its upper end closed and its lower end open and spaoed from the couplng.

4. A ventflating devce comprising a coupling adapted to be connected wth the end of a vent pipe, a screen fitting over and extending above the upper end of the coupling, en cap fitted over the screen and havng its upper end closed and its Iower end open, and means connecting the open end of the cap wth the coupling and servng to maintain said cap in spaced relation 50 its lower end open, and fastening devces form ing a connectcn between the open end of the cap and said coupling, said fastenng devices being adjustable to center the cap with respect 1 to the coup1ing.

6. A ventilating devce comprising a coupling adapted to be connected with the end of a vent pipe and having its upper end tapered, an upwardIy tapered screen fitted over and extending above the upper end of the coupling and having its lower end flared Iaterally for engagement with the tapered end of the coupling, and a retaining member fitted on the coupling and provided wth an :mwardly extending fiange adapted to bear against the fiared portion of the screen for clamping said screen in contact with the coupling.

WILLIAM H. RICE. HANCEL M. LYON.

EL. s.] 

